In a study of American children aged 11 and 12, researchers from UCLA compared those who stood up to aggressors with those who did not.

Children who returned hostility with hostility appeared to be the most mature, the researchers found. Boys who stood up to bullies and schoolyard enemies were judged more socially competent by their teachers. Girls who did the same were more popular and more admired by teachers and peers.

They did not study adults, but I'm sure we can draw our own conclusions regarding fines, traffic tickets, plea bargains, etc.